AIMMGM Meets With Government Officials

Rubén Del Pozo, President, AIMMGM, met with officials from the Ministry of Economy (SE) to discuss key issues impacting Mexico's mining and metallurgical industry. The meeting comes at a pivotal moment, with the mining sector closely monitoring government policies as Claudia Sheinbaum’s term just started.

AIMMGM reported that Fernando Aboitiz, Head of the Extractive Activities Coordination Unit; Luz Hiram, Director General of Mining Development; and José Castro, Director General of Mines, attended the meeting. During the discussion, the group addressed several key concerns within the sector, including the proposed initiative to ban open-pit mining. In addition to reviewing these topics, the officials and Del Pozo agreed to establish a joint collaboration framework to tackle various issues impacting Mexico’s mining industry.

Del Pozo noted that the meeting offered an opportunity for dialogue with the federal administration, complementing ongoing discussions with legislative representatives. The goal, he said, is to work together to increase the benefits and contributions of the mining and metallurgical sector, which, according to AIMMGM, generates over 3 million direct and indirect jobs in Mexico.

Recent Initiatives to Engage With the Government

A primary concern for leading mining associations is the potential for the new administration to implement a ban on open-pit mining. The sector views this as a significant risk to Mexico’s economy, given that over 60% of the country’s mining output comes from open-pit operations. “It must be made loud and clear that AIMMGM, the largest and most important mining professional association in our country, opposes this initiative. There is no other mining technique in Mexico or the world that allows us to exploit large-volume, low-grade mineral deposits other than open-pit mining," del Pozo said during his swearing-in ceremony. 

On Oct. 10, 2024, MBN reported that the Senate and Mexico's mining industry officially established the Mining Commission of the LXVI Legislature, tasked with addressing sector challenges and incorporating private sector input for balanced policymaking. Del Pozo expressed optimism that the commission would strengthen ties between the industry and legislature, fostering policies that consider national and international interests. 

Mining insiders stress the importance of involving industry voices in regulatory discussions to prevent negative impacts on the Mexican economy and the mining sector. CIMMGM cites recent reforms to the Mining Law, which assigned exploration activities exclusively to the state through SGM. This change led to a rise in unemployment in primary exploration, with rates climbing from 30% to 50%, as reported by MBN.